Canal hire firms in Northern England & the Scottish Lowlands

The Inland Waterways of Northern England and lowland Scotland were at the heart of the Industrial Revolution,
linking the ports of Hull and Liverpool to the manufacturing centres of
Manchester and Leeds, and Glasgow and Edinburgh to the industries of central Scotland.

Now most of the old industries are silent and hiring a boat on these canals opens up access some of the most
impressive scenery in Britain. The majestic Pennine hills
are crossed by the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, the
Huddersfield
Narrow Canal and the Rochdale Canal.
Though the lock free Lancaster Canal has lost
some of its isolation since the opening of the Ribble Link across the
River Ribble it still meanders peacefully between the
Irish Sea and the Pennine Hills, hopefully one day it will again reach the
edge of the Lake District at Kendal. The recently reopened Scottish
Lowland Canals have reunited Glasgow and Edinburgh via the
amazing Falkirk Wheel.

Just click the tab above to see selected hire firms on that canal.

Canal Boat Hire on the Lancaster Canal

The Lancaster Canal runs for 42 lock free miles through pleasant pasturelands, overlooked for most of the way by the foothills of the Pennines. A round trip from Preston to Lancaster is easily possible in a week.
This is a great canal if you want to avoid locks, there are none on the
main line. If you really like locks take the optional short six lock branch to Glasson Docks!

Duck Island Boat Company The fastest
way to slow down cruising in superior style aboard a luxurious bespoke canal boat. We offer an intriguing opportunity for a spot
of pure relaxation and self indulgence.

Pintail Boats
Narrowboat and Widebeam holidays from the most northerly point of Lancaster
Canal, offering over 40 miles of lock-free cruising along one of the
country’s most peaceful and picturesque waterways.

Canal Boat Hire on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal

The Leeds & Liverpool Canal climbs away from the Lancashire plain into the Pennine hills from Wigan,
up the famous 21 locks. The summit level goes through some fine moorland scenery over the 'backbone of England',
plunging through the mile long Foulridge tunnel. It then descends amidst
remote and beautiful countryside towards the bustling city of Leeds.
Allow over a week for Liverpool to Leeds.

Boats from £59 with Pennine Lancashire’s secret
Hapton Valley Boats for the day, weekend and weekly
breaks. Vast countryside, elevated views and part of UK’s largest heritage
regeneration The Weavers Triangle.

Snaygill Boats
are based in Skipton on the peaceful and beautiful Leeds & Liverpool canal, crossing the Pennine Hills and Yorkshire Dales. Full details in on-line brochure.

Canal Boat Hire on the Rochdale Canal

The Rochdale Canal is a broad canal which pioneered the route up the valleys on each side of Blackstone Edge on to the
magnificent rounded slopes of the Pennine moors. Rail and modern road followed on, all packed tightly into the available space.
The canal was reopened in 2002 after being abandoned for over 50 years and is a wonderful journey for energetic boaters,
especially as part of a 'Pennine Ring'.

Shire Cruisers
operate from a picturesque basin on the Calder & Hebble Navigation. As well as the interesting Yorkshire waterways you
can explore the recently restored Rochdale Canal.

Canal Boat Hire on the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Canals

The Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation leaves the River Trent at Keadby.
Linking Sheffield, Doncaster and the south Yorkshire coalfield with the North Sea
its trade continued well into the 20th century. The area now provides a fascinating
collection of surprisingly attractive and interesting wide cruising routes. It includes the Sheffield Canal, the Stainforth
and Keadby Canal and the New Junction Canal which links to the Aire and Calder.

The reopening of the deep and wide Scottish Lowland Canals recreated a 69 mile waterway route running from City to City
and Sea to Sea. The Forth and Clyde from Glasgow to Falkirk, The Union Canal from Falkirk to Edinburgh.
The Falkirk Wheel is a significant landmark rising 115 feet (35m) into the air, its unique engineering
and striking design helping it become the Eighth Wonder of the Waterways.

Capercaillie Cruisers based at Falkirk on the Forth and Clyde Canal offer an outstanding holiday
with the personal touch on Scotland's 'newest' canal! See historic Edinburgh
and the stunning new 'Falkirk Wheel'.